"At a mile distant their thousand hooves were stuttering thunder, coming at a rate that frightened a man - they were an awe inspiring sight, galloping through the red haze - knee to knee and horse to horse - the dying sun glinting on bayonet points..." Trooper Ion Idriess

The Australian Light Horse Studies Centre aims to present an accurate history as chroniclers of early Australian military developments from 1899 to 1920.

The Australian Light Horse Studies Centre site holds over 12,000 entries and is growing daily.

The following entries dealing with the roles and duties within the hierarchy of a light horse regiment are extracted from a very informative handbook called The Bushman’s Military Guide, 1898. While written in 1898, the information contained in the entries held true for the next twenty years with only minor modifications with the principles remaining as current then as now.

Duties of Troop (or Half-Squadron) Orderly Corporal

38. Duties of Troop (or Half-Squadron) Orderly Corporal.

(1.) He parades all men for mounted orderlies, guards, fatigues, or any other duties whatever, and must, on an emergency, be capable of taking up the duties of orderly sergeant.

(2.) Any man sick to report to the troop orderly corporal before 8 a.m. daily, except in special cases.

(3.) He will see that tent orderlies are detailed in each tent of his troop, etc., daily.

(4.) He will parade tent orderlies fifteen minutes before the time ordered for meals and march them to and from the place appointed for distribution of meals, and will see that due regularity is observed.

(5.) He will parade the tent orderlies that have men of their particular tents on guard, and will see that men on guard are supplied with meals before any one else.

(6.) He will issue the forage in a regular manner, taking care that nose-bags are equally apportioned and distributed.

The following is an extract from the book written in 1962 by George F. Wieck called The Volunteer Movement in Western Australia 1861-1903, pp. 47 - 48:

Perth Volunteer Artillery

This corps was created by a simple change of designation from "W.A. Troop of Volunteer Horse Artillery" on 21 August 1882. It is understood that at about this time the type of uniform was changed to the normal Royal Artillery pattern.

Strength of the corps in 1882 stood at 30 all ranks, later variations are suggestive of spasmodic efforts to clear away accumulations of inefficients, e.g. the strength in 1882 was 30, 42 in 1884, 32 in 1886, 44 in 1887, 50 in 1893, and 32 in 1895.

The guns were drawn by 4-horse teams hired for the occasion. The first change of armament took place in August 1894, when the Armstrong-Whitworth guns were replaced by two 9 pr rifled M.L. guns [9 pounder rifled muzzle loading guns], complete with limbers, etc.

The corps was kept very busy. There were ceremonial parades, numerous artillery salutes, and camps (including that held in 1884). Permission was given to form a Cavalry Escort for the Governor when he was returning from an official visit to the Victoria district.

In 1887 the corps designation was changed again this time to "No. 1 Battery, Field Artillery", although to the average citizen it was still the Perth Volunteer Artillery. For further details refer to No. 1 Battery, Field Artillery.

At about 1900 on the 10th December 1918, a NZ soldier came to my bivvy and said: "Do you know the New Zealanders are going to raid the village over here tonight?"

I replied: No, I was not aware tat any raid was taking place."

He said: "Well, we are going to raid it, of course, you have heard of one of our chaps being shot."

I said: "I have heard different rumours about a man being shot."

He replied: "I can tell you the right story as I'm one of his mates. We feel badly about it, these people have given us a very bad spin and we intend to make an example of them this time."

I said: "I could not go over as if any raid was made were would almost certainly be stood to."

He then called the men out of a couple of bivvies close by and told them what was about to take place and said: "Don't bring any ammunition or we will be shooting each other in the dark, but bring a pick handle or some such weapon or a bayonet will be as good as anything, as we may be attacked ourselves." He then said: "If you go dswn and wait at the lower side of the village, I will come back later and lead you round the opposite side where the attack is going to take place from at 0800, as of course the raid is organised and the plan will be explained to you when you get round there. I have been to "B" and "C" Squadrons, are there any other Regiments about here?"

I replied: "We are the only Regiment here."

He then said: "I will go ovder to your YMCA, there is a good crowd there, and up to the MG Squadron."

About ½ an hour later he came back through the Squadron lines but there was no one with him. I heard the men say:

"A man does not want to be going over there."

And I know that none of the men he spoke to when I was present took part in the raid and I do not know of a single man who did.

I remarked: "You never know where these things are going to end, especially if there is a rum ration."

And one of the men said: "No, when thing get started they will probably end up by raping the women."

When we got the order to "Stand to" I believe nearly all the men of my troop were there and they kept coming in from the Pictures. I spoke to a good number o the men the following day and they all expressed themselves as disgusted with the raid.

The following entries dealing with the roles and duties within the hierarchy of a light horse regiment are extracted from a very informative handbook called The Bushman’s Military Guide, 1898. While written in 1898, the information contained in the entries held true for the next twenty years with only minor modifications with the principles remaining as current then as now.

Duties of Tent Orderly

(1.) A tent orderly will be detailed daily by the non-commissioned officer or section leader in charge of the tent.

(2.) His duties are, generally, to keep the tent clean, to see that the arms and accoutrements are neatly arranged round the tent-pole, blankets and men's clothing neatly folded; although each man in the tent will keep his own part clean, his own blankets, etc., folded, and generally assist the tent orderly.

(3.) He will parade under the Troop Orderly Corporal fifteen minutes before the time appointed for meal-hours with the dishes allotted to his tent, convey the provisions from the cooking-place, and arrange its being equally apportioned amongst the men.

(4.) He will convey the meals of men on guard to the guard tent before he has his own.

(5.) He will "rash up" and keep clean the mess tins, knives, and forks, etc., of all the men of his tent, keep the bread, etc., required for next meal clean and safely put aside.

(6.) Every man in the tent except non-commissioned officers or the section leader in charge of the tent, will be required to take his turn of Tent Orderly.

The following is an extract from the book written in 1962 by George F. Wieck called The Volunteer Movement in Western Australia 1861-1903, pp. 48 - 49:

Northampton Rifle Volunteers

About the year 1881, Captain E. Shenton applied for authority to raise a Volunteer Infantry corps at Northampton as a detachment of the Geraldton Rifle Volunteers. Approval was deferred. On 30 June 1883 a second application was made and on the Military Commandant's recommendation the Governor approved subject to funds being available under the 1883-84 Budget. The requisite authority appeared in the Government Gazette of 1 July 1884. The official designation of the new corps was "Northampton Rifle Volunteers" but it was definitely part of the Geraldton corps. Lieutenant S. Mitchell was appointed to Command.

Rapid progress was made and the permitted strength of 40 was maintained at first - on paper, at any rate. Training conformed to the Geraldton programme, the corps achieving similar proficiency in rifle shooting. Later on matters were not so satisfactory. On 21 January 1899 the detachment was disbanded owing to general inefficiency. This was a clear case of exhaustion of recruit potential and names of inefficients being kept on the roll.

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